Manchester United have been handed a major injury boost as club captain Wayne Rooney is set to make a comeback for their derby clash against Manchester City at the Etihad this weekend.

Rooney will be looking to continue his excellent record against Manchester City on SundayReuters

Manchester United have been handed a major injury boost as club captain Wayne Rooney is set to make a comeback for their derby clash against Manchester City at the Etihad this weekend.

Rooney, who has now served a three-match suspension after seeing a straight red during the Red Devils' 2-1 win over West Ham United in the Premier League last month, gave United an injury scare when he was seen limping, after picking up a knock during training at Carrington on Monday.

However, according to the Daily Mail, the 29-year-old striker - who attended a full training session on Wednesday - is now available for the derby at the Etihad on Sunday.

United boss Louis van Gaal is expected to bring Rooney back into the starting lineup as the former Everton striker has an excellent record against City, scoring 11 goals.

Apart from Rooney, United have also been boosted by the return of Michael Carrick, who has come back to the squad after missing the first three months of the season with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, City defender Aleksandar Kolarov feels his team has been better than United for several years now.

After remaining in United's shadows for a long time, City have now been more dominating in Manchester, winning six out of their last nine meetings against the Red Devils.

Last season, United were thrashed 0-3 and 1-4 in their home and away league fixtures by City, who went on the win the title.

And Kolarov believes that the noisy neighbours are the new dominant force in Manchester.

"Every player in the world would like to play [in] this game. United has a great history but in the last five or six years, I think we have been superior to them," the Serbian told ESPN.

However, despite City's dominance over United of late, the 28-year-old insists his team will not take their neighbours for granted at the Etihad on Sunday.

"United is always United, a great club with a great history and if you don't respect them a lot they are going to beat you. They change a lot of players and are in progression now."

"They have changed the manager and bought a lot of great players and I think they can do a good season in the Premier League. Van Gaal has a lot of experience. They have bought some great players so it is up to them to do their best."